Monthly Archives: June 2011

Caring for your soft contact lenses is easier than ever. One-bottle care systems and disposable contact lenses mean that comprehensive lens care involves much less time, money, and trouble than it did just a few years ago. Each pair of lenses has unique needs, and you should follow the regimen prescribed by your eye doctor. Some products don’t mix well, or will ruin certain lenses. Don’t switch to a new regimen without your doctor’s approval. With that in mind, here are the basic steps for soft contact lens care.

1. Wash your hands. This keeps dirt and germs out of your eyes! Avoid moisturizing soaps, as they can stain lenses. Dry your hands with a lint-free towel.

2. Remove one lens and clean it with the recommended solution. Cleaning removes mineral deposits, cosmetics, and other debris to keep your lenses clear, comfortable and safe. The FDA recommends that you rub the lens in the palm of your hand with a few drops of solution, even if you are using a "no-rub" product.

3. Rinse the lens again to remove the loosened debris, making sure to take as long as the package directs. This is a very important step.

4. Place the lens in your clean lens case and fill with fresh solution. Don’t top-up your old solution. Fresh solution will sterilize the lens. Disinfection time varies by brand; check the package for details.

All contact lens solutions are not created equal. A cleaning solution that doesn’t match your lenses can cause red, itchy eyes—or even turn your contact lenses brown! We know it’s tempting to buy the bottle on sale, but it’s vital to use the solution recommended by your eye doctor. Also, make sure to read the fine print closely. It can mean the difference between a carefree life and another trip to the optometrist.

Each type of contact lenses requires a specific mix of cleaning and disinfection agents to keep your eyes healthy. This is balanced with preservatives to keep the solution fresh. No matter what the bottle claims, each solution is different, with unique ingredients that are often proprietary—that is, available to the manufacturer and no one else. And remember, not all solutions can safely be placed into the eye! When prescribing your lenses, your eye doctor knows the cleaning solution that will keep them safe and clear. It might be more expensive than the store brand, but your eyes are priceless.

Ladies, you know how annoying it is to get makeup in your eye. But it’s even worse when you wear contact lenses, because makeup can stick to your lenses. Here are a few tips for keeping your eyes looking and feeling good.

1. Put your contact lenses in before applying makeup. Always wash your hands thoroughly before touching your contacts so you won't transfer any oils, creams, or lotions to the lenses.

2. Use only hypoallergenic makeup. Almay and Clinique have eye-friendly products, but check out other brands too.

3. Cream eye shadow is less likely to get in your eye than powder, but creams can irritate your eyes more. Choose water-based creams.

4. If you prefer powder, keep your eyes closed during application. Then brush off any excess powder before opening your eyes.

5. Never apply eyeliner between your lashes and your eye—only to the portion of your lashes that is well away from your eye.

6. To remove eye makeup, wash and dry your hands. Then remove your contacts, being careful not to brush them into your makeup. Finally, use eye makeup remover.

7. Buy new makeup frequently—at least every three months. Don't use old eye makeup, because over time bacteria will get into the product and then into your eyes, where it can cause an infection. One way to tell if your makeup is too old is if it has a strange smell. Also, don't share your eye makeup with others.

You can also use contact lenses to enhance your makeup efforts. Check out our colored contacts to see how you can customize your look!

A special offer will be emailed to all previous customers with a unique invitation to place a re-order 1 month before their lens supply runs out. This offer must be redeemed within 30 days of receiving the special offer.

This program is not based on when a customer’s prescription will expire, rather a calculation between the total boxes ordered from the last purchase combined with the expected calendar date that supply will be used up.

Not really. The white part of your eyeball is covered in a natural barrier that prevents foreign objects from getting trapped behind the eye. Occasionally, though, a rub or bump can fold the lens in half and dislodge it from the cornea. If you feel like your lens is stuck in your eye, don’t worry; it’s only under your eyelid, and it can’t go any further. Here’s what to do:

Add a few eye drops to your eye, then shut the eye and gently massage it. This action will usually bring the contact lens forward so you can remove it. If the lens remains folded, briefly soak it in contact lens solution, then gently rub it until it returns to its original shape.

If you can’t find your lens this way, try turning your eyelid inside out. It’s not painful, and we promise it’s easier than it sounds.

Place a Q-Tip horizontally over your eyelid. Then, while looking down, grab hold of your eyelashes, gently pull the lid down and quickly fold the lid over the Q-Tip.

Keep looking down and tilt your head back. With your other eye open, you should be able to see the folded lens and remove it.

If these methods don’t work, ask someone to help you, or call your eye doctor for assistance.